Experimental opacification of mediastinal lymph nodes by intraperitoneal injection of an iodinated fatty emulsion.

Absorption and lymphatic drainage of several lipiodol emulsions injected intraperitoneally have been studied in the rabbit and rat. Good opacification of the lymphatic channels and mediastinal lymph nodes is obtained in several hours with fine emulsions and in several days with coarse emulsions. The tolerance is related to dose, and the peritoneal reaction was moderate with the low doses, similar to that caused by the administration of physiologic saline alone. Computerized tomography in detecting low contrasts attained with small doses could render this method of indirect lymphography possible in man.